Taif, Saudi Arabia – 05 Oct 2023, – The Women’s International Friendly Tournament, organized by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and hosted in the city of Taif, reached a thrilling conclusion this past weekend as Lebanon emerged victorious at King Fahd Sports City Stadium, defeating Bhutan 1-0 after extra time in the final.

Broadcast on FIFA+ and Riyadiya TV, the second edition of the tournament, which ran from 18-30 September and featured six teams, was a tremendous success on and off the field. Its impact is sure to support the sustained growth and development of women’s football across Saudi Arabia in the years ahead, with the competition’s coverage certain to inspire participation among even more women and girls across the Kingdom.

“Exactly like our inaugural edition earlier this year, the Women’s International Friendly Tournament has been embraced by audiences and really showcased the incredible opportunities becoming available in the women’s game,” said Aalia AlRasheed, Head of the Women’s Football Department at SAFF. “The competition is a genuine source of inspiration for up-and-coming talent and highlights the progress we are making to provide present and future generations with the platforms they need to enhance their skills, progress their careers, and showcase their abilities.”

Notably, the Saudi Arabian national women’s team displayed remarkable determination throughout the competition, securing fourth place in a closely contested match against Malaysia, who finished third following a narrow 1-0 victory.

Elsewhere, the Pakistan national team achieved a respectable fifth-place finish by triumphing over Laos in a thrilling penalty shootout, securing a 4-2 victory after their match ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Women’s International Friendly Tournament is an embodiment of SAFF’s vision to inspire participation and contribute as a force for good within the women’s game, which is a key pillar of the Federation’s ‘Tactics For Tomorrow’ strategy.

Under Tactics For Tomorrow, SAFF seeks to elevate Saudi Arabia to elite status in world football by 2034 and part of this entails professionalizing all areas of the women’s game and offering new opportunities across the ecosystem.